I am very happy to find this website. I have had a pool service for the past 6 years and never really took the time to learn enough about my pool. In an effort to save on costs and teach my sons how to take care of the pool I have recently been studying what I need to learn about the pool so we can take care of it ourselves. Recently I discovered a fair amount of air in the pump basket and failure of the pump to prime when it starts up in the morning or after I shut down the pump to clean the pump basket. This is concerning to me as twice now I have found the pump getting very hot because it was not pulling enough water into the basket. I have read some forums and pool school to try to solve the problem. The gasket on lid looks good but I used silicone on it anyway and also checked the suction side pump drain plug and used silicone on it as well. Water level in pool is good. I thought it might be the check valve so replaced it but still having the problem. I have tried the "water trick" mentioned in pool school using a hose to run water over the suction side valves and joints but it didn't help either. I think the problem may be coming from a sensor line that feeds into the main drain line as it comes out of the ground and prior to going into the pump. I have a fairly automated pool and I think this is either the sensor line for pH or ORP. In any event, the place it enters the PVC seems to have a small worn gasket. I have applied silicone around it and it may have helped a little to decrease the air bubbles but they are still significant and the pump still failed to prime on restart. Is there a place online that I could by a new gasket for this black rubber hose/sensor line into the PVC and it would show me how to replace it? If this isn't the problem I am afraid it may be a problem with the pipes underground. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice for this problem? Thanks in advance for any help.